April 18th-20th: Yankees @ Orioles

[Jitpal]

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Pitching Matchups and Preview:
Friday, 4/18/08: Phil Hughes, RHP (0-2, 9.00) @ Daniel Cabrera, RHP (0-0, 5.94)
Yankees: Hughes' first Fenway Park experience didn't go as well as the other times he'd visited the facility, watching the likes of Mo Vaughn and Nomar Garciaparra slug home runs toward the paying customers. Given a better vantage point on Sunday, Hughes couldn't stick around long enough to enjoy it, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits in two-plus innings. All three batters Hughes walked came around to score, and he kicked himself for some possible mechanical flaws he would need to look at with pitching coach Dave Eiland.
Orioles: Cabrera flashed his best form in his last start, when he pitched into the seventh inning and allowed just one run. The right-hander basically used just his fastball in that outing, and he has been experimenting with a slider as a replacement for his curveball. Cabrera led the league in walks the past two seasons, and he currently sits second with 12 free passes.

Saturday, 4/19/08: Ian Kennedy, RHP (0-1, 8.74) @ Brian Burres, LHP (1-1, 5.40)
Yankees: Kennedy got his revenge on the Rays and possibly a new start to his season on Monday at Tropicana Field, limiting Tampa Bay to three earned runs on eight hits over six-plus innings in a 94-pitch effort. Kennedy's line might have even been better if he hadn't been struck by a Jason Bartlett liner in the bottom of the seventh that chased him; Bartlett came around to score when Billy Traber served up a homer. The Yankees called Kennedy's injury just a bruise, and he is expected to make his first career start against Baltimore.
Orioles: Burres was dominant in his first start and got off to a great start in his second, when he fired four no-hit innings against the Rays. The roof fell in during the fifth inning, though, and Burres was charged with five hits and six earned runs. The southpaw served as a swingman last season, and he's trying to prove himself as a starting pitcher.

Sunday, 4/20/08: Andy Pettitte, LHP (2-1, 3.38) @ Steve Trachsel, RHP (1-2, 5.65)
Yankees: Pettitte logged seven innings of quality ball on Tuesday at Tropicana Field, throwing 100 pitches in the Yankees' 5-3 victory. Though he scattered nine hits -- seven of them in the first three innings -- Pettitte was able to limit damage and even rediscovered his curveball, which had abandoned him for his first two starts of the regular season. Pettitte said he still felt "fairly decent" after the seventh even though he was taxed hard through the first three innings, and said he's pleased with his progress so far.
Orioles: Trachsel got knocked out in the third inning of his last start, forcing the Baltimore bullpen to cover the rest of the game. The right-hander will get the ball again in the homestand finale against the Yankees. Trachsel has a 4-4 record and a 3.63 ERA in 10 career appearances against New York, one of which came last season.

Lineups:
YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Giambi 1B
Cabrera CF
Moeller C
Hughes RHP

Notes:
Our favorite former Angel with the excellent change up is in the clubhouse according to Peter Abraham. Looks like Albaladejo will be sent down for Edwar Ramirez. -Jitpal

UPDATE 4/19/08: Joba is back and Farnsworth is probably suspended for throwing behind Manny. He could still appeal which means he might be available until the appeal process is over. Posada is playing first and Molina is catching. -Jitpal

[nykgeneralmanager]

Hughes said that he looked over the tape for a few days and Eiland told him that if he stays over the rubber just a second longer, he'll have his command from 2006 back. Even though he pitched terribly in Boston, his stuff was as sharp as we have seen it since his time in AA in 2006 (outside of the game at Texas).

His issue has been his command, which was maybe the most sure aspect of Hughes' game a couple of years ago when he was the #1 prospect in baseball, and for him to just lose that suddenly has to be mechanical. Hopefully it is as easy as just staying over the rubber just a hair longer, but we will see. He seems to have his stuff back now (93 mph fastball, sharp curve, good 2-seamer), now its on to the command.

[Jitpal]

Hughes said that he looked over the tape for a few days and Eiland told him that if he stays over the rubber just a second longer, he'll have his command from 2006 back. Even though he pitched terribly in Boston, his stuff was as sharp as we have seen it since his time in AA in 2006 (outside of the game at Texas).

His issue has been his command, which was maybe the most sure aspect of Hughes' game a couple of years ago when he was the #1 prospect in baseball, and for him to just lose that suddenly has to be mechanical. Hopefully it is as easy as just staying over the rubber just a hair longer, but we will see. He seems to have his stuff back now (93 mph fastball, sharp curve, good 2-seamer), now its on to the command.

Let's hope it's that easy. If he does get it right, watch out. Wang and Pettitte are doing their thing and Kennedy looked really good last time. If Hughes gets it together now, that is 4 real starters with Joba waiting in the wings. I think I am going to get some food and settle in for this game.-Jitpal

[Jitpal]

Looking pretty good so far. Too many 2 and 3 ball counts. He gets a guy to two strikes but he can't put him away. Steps I guess. -Jitpal

[nykgeneralmanager]

Looking pretty good so far. Too many 2 and 3 ball counts. He gets a guy to two strikes but he can't put him away. Steps I guess. -Jitpal

Yeah, that pretty much comes from a lack of an effective third pitch. If he trusted his change or slider enough to keep guys honest, he would freeze them or at least get some swings and misses with his fastball or curve in 2 strike counts. However, you can't really fool guys too much with just 2 pitches. But he can get by and get guys out because the two pitches he does trust are very, very good.

[Jitpal]

-= original quote snipped =-


Yeah, that pretty much comes from a lack of an effective third pitch. If he trusted his change or slider enough to keep guys honest, he would freeze them or at least get some swings and misses with his fastball or curve in 2 strike counts. However, you can't really fool guys too much with just 2 pitches. But he can get by and get guys out because the two pitches he does trust are very, very good.

Couldn't he use his slider and change occasionally, even if he keeps it away? I remember reading that his slider was his best pitch before Nardi went to work with him. I know he didn't throw it for a while to check his shoulder issues. I also remember reading that his change was coming along very nicely. I think he could throw each occasionally to keep guys honest. -Jitpal

[DakkaFromNyc]

Game is slowing gettin out of hand, this offense needs somethin going

[DakkaFromNyc]

Im not worried bout Hughes even after gettin roughed up again cuz its just singles and not big hits..

[DakkaFromNyc]

Our offense did a good job gettin on base but not good enough 2 score runs..

[DakkaFromNyc]

ARod really need 2 start stackin up hits cuz the team will go as far as he takes us

[cmaff051]

Hughes with only 1 strikeout in 5 innings? Pathetic.

[jeff1624]

Hughes is starting to worry me. I'd be ok if they were to send him down for 2-3 starts so he can regain his composure. Darell Rasner,jeff karstens and steven white could all start a few games while hughes works on his mechanics.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Hughes was a lot better tonight, the line doesn't really do him justice. However, he still nibbles way too much and refuses to attack hitters once he gets 2 strikes on them.

His fastball was 92-93 all night with very good movement and the usual late life, and the 2-seamer looked good. The curve has great break and was extremely sharp, and he seemed to be locating it pretty well.

However, once again he just can't put guys away because of a combination of nibbling and the fact that he only throws 2 pitches consistently. He threw a couple of sliders tonight that he got strikes called on and they looked really good, why he doesn't use the pitch more is absolutely mind boggling. When he gets ahead 0-2 he should look to hit that pitch on the corner as opposed to burying the curve in the dirt (which the hitters know is coming and lay off). The hitters know how he pitches right now and they are able to gameplan against him, and until he switches it up, it will be a lot like this.

But to keep it all into perspective, and I know this is getting old...but he is 21 years old and learning everything on the fly. Hughes never had to labor in the minors, he never had to pitch with the bases loaded in the minors, he RARELY even had to pitch with men on base in the minors (WHIP about 0.80 in the minors). This is all new to him, and for fans to expect him to instantly know what to do simply isn't fair.

Forget that there aren't 21 year old aces in the majors, there simply are barely any good pitches around 21-24 years old. The learning curve for pitchers from the minors to the majors is a tremendous ones, and you don't see pitchers put everything together until after 3-4 full seasons. Hughes, on the other hand, has barely accumulated enough major league innings to equal a HALF season.

Lets see where he is in two years at age 23 (which is what guys like Buchholz, Cain, etc. are) in terms of his change/slider and such before people start giving up on him. I know that won't happen because nobody has patience and Yankee fans haven't had to watch a 21 year old starter learn on the job in decades, but it would be nice to see.

[cmaff051]

I'll say another thing: Hughes in this current form is not a good pitcher. He's not getting unlucky, he's just getting his ass handed to him. He doesn't miss any bats, his curveball is not as good as it was before, so he just pumps fastball after fastball across the plate and the hitters sit on it. He also has no consistent third pitch.

[DakkaFromNyc]

Hughes was a lot better tonight, the line doesn't really do him justice. However, he still nibbles way too much and refuses to attack hitters once he gets 2 strikes on them.

His fastball was 92-93 all night with very good movement and the usual late life, and the 2-seamer looked good. The curve has great break and was extremely sharp, and he seemed to be locating it pretty well.

However, once again he just can't put guys away because of a combination of nibbling and the fact that he only throws 2 pitches consistently. He threw a couple of sliders tonight that he got strikes called on and they looked really good, why he doesn't use the pitch more is absolutely mind boggling. When he gets ahead 0-2 he should look to hit that pitch on the corner as opposed to burying the curve in the dirt (which the hitters know is coming and lay off). The hitters know how he pitches right now and they are able to gameplan against him, and until he switches it up, it will be a lot like this.

But to keep it all into perspective, and I know this is getting old...but he is 21 years old and learning everything on the fly. Hughes never had to labor in the minors, he never had to pitch with the bases loaded in the minors, he RARELY even had to pitch with men on base in the minors (WHIP about 0.80 in the minors). This is all new to him, and for fans to expect him to instantly know what to do simply isn't fair.

Forget that there aren't 21 year old aces in the majors, there simply are barely any good pitches around 21-24 years old. The learning curve for pitchers from the minors to the majors is a tremendous ones, and you don't see pitchers put everything together until after 3-4 full seasons. Hughes, on the other hand, has barely accumulated enough major league innings to equal a HALF season.

Lets see where he is in two years at age 23 (which is what guys like Buchholz, Cain, etc. are) in terms of his change/slider and such before people start giving up on him. I know that won't happen because nobody has patience and Yankee fans haven't had to watch a 21 year old starter learn on the job in decades, but it would be nice to see.

reason y i still have faith on Hughes

[gooGD]

I've wrote about his inability to put away hitters after 2 strikes, and tonight was another perfect reason why Hughes needs a third pitch. Hitters were just waiting for Hughes to make a mistake, whether it was a hanging curve, or a fastball that touched too much of the plate. He needs to start featuring another pitch early in the count. He cannot be just a fastball-curveball guy.

If I was a Yankee fan, I would still have high hopes for Hughes. He still has a great curveball and life on his fastball, but he needs to develop a changeup or slider which can generate swing and misses. He also needs to do a better job painting the outside corner with his curveball...

Not a great outing by Hughes considering it is against Baltimore, but he needs more work... he cannot stay as a fastball-curveball pitcher.

[Pharmcat]

[cmaff051]

I've wrote about his inability to put away hitters after 2 strikes, and tonight was another perfect reason why Hughes needs a third pitch. Hitters were just waiting for Hughes to make a mistake, whether it was a hanging curve, or a fastball that touched too much of the plate. He needs to start featuring another pitch early in the count. He cannot be just a fastball-curveball guy.

If I was a Yankee fan, I would still have high hopes for Hughes. He still has a great curveball and life on his fastball, but he needs to develop a changeup or slider which can generate swing and misses. He also needs to do a better job painting the outside corner with his curveball...

Not a great outing by Hughes considering it is against Baltimore, but he needs more work... he cannot stay as a fastball-curveball pitcher.

He often throws 7 or 8 fastballs in a row too. Even worse, if you've noticed, he wastes "set up pitches" that are intentionally thrown inside to move batters off the plate. Batters then foul off his pitches, and his pitch count rises quickly.

Answer me this: how many swings and misses does Hughes get? Very little. And that is very concerning. You aren't going to succeed in this league if you don't get swings and misses.

[DakkaFromNyc]

Ill take loses if it triggers wins later on

[Jitpal]

-= original quote snipped =-



He often throws 7 or 8 fastballs in a row too. Even worse, if you've noticed, he wastes "set up pitches" that are intentionally thrown inside to move batters off the plate. Batters then foul off his pitches, and his pitch count rises quickly.

Answer me this: how many swings and misses does Hughes get? Very little. And that is very concerning. You aren't going to succeed in this league if you don't get swings and misses.

I know Hughes didn't pitch well at Boston, but it was after that game that the starting pitching went downhill. I do not think it is a coincidence that our two catchers were hurt and unable to catch. I know Moeller has been hitting a little and I know the organization is pretty high on him but something about him behind the plate really irks me. I just don't think he calls a good game. I'm not saying the recent bad starting pitching is his fault but I think it has to factor into it.

I agree with the waste pitches. He gets two strikes pretty easily on most hitters and then he nibbles. Perhaps later in his career he will get some of those calls but right now he isn't. I think he needs to attack and trust his stuff. I don't know why he doesn't because he did it post-injury in September and against the Indians. He was getting those swings and misses last year which is what is odd this year. My only guess is the hitters may have adjusted so now he has to. -Jitpal